New Ms. Wheelchair Crowned

NEW MS. WHEELCHAIR KANSAS CROWNED

Wichita teacher to serve as advocate and spokesperson for people with disabilities

TOPEKA, Kan. – The 2010 Ms. Wheelchair Kansas (MWKS) was recently crowned during a weekend ceremony held March 14, 2010, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka, Kan. Tiffany Nickel of Wichita received her crown after participating in four judging sessions, as well as many other activities, throughout the three-day event held March 12-14. The weekend concluded with a formal crowning, where Tiffany was chosen as the new titleholder and fellow contestants Sharon Joseph of Topeka and Brooke Ziegler of Wichita were recognized for their accomplishments.

The crowning ceremony, held on Sunday, was attended by more than 80 family, friends, and community members. The event consisted of platform speeches by each of the three contestants, as well as two on-stage questions. The audience enjoyed a slide show of memories from the weekend; a music performance from Whyte Lyte; a keynote speech from Julia Thomas of the KS Youth Empowerment Academy; as well as a farewell from the 2009 MWKS titleholder, Marie Clement of Mayetta.

Tiffany, the new titleholder, has a passion for educating others about the abilities of people with disabilities. She does this by demonstrating her own abilities through her job and volunteer activities. Tiffany obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Emporia State University in 1995. She currently lives in Wichita and is an inter-related intermediate special education teacher in Wichita Public Schools, where she has taught for the past ten years. Tiffany is also the Executive Director of the Kansas Disability Coalition, Inc. She has a large interest in sports and is currently the President of Wheelchair Sports, Inc. Tiffany, who is quadriplegic, is an advocate for equality of all people. She believes that anything is possible as long as you have a support system, as well as a great set of tires and a charged battery!

Tiffany will serve as a role model and spokesperson for people with disabilities in Kansas in the coming year. She will strive to educate, advocate, and empower all people in our state. Tiffany will have the opportunity to travel throughout Kansas educating various groups about the issues of importance to people with disabilities. She will encourage others to reach their full potential by sharing her platform of “Capabilities of those with Disabilities and Unconditional Access.” With this platform, Tiffany will work to highlight the accomplishments of the disability community, as well as encourage acceptance and equality throughout our state. She will ultimately represent Kansas in the Ms. Wheelchair America competition, held in Grand Rapids, MI in August, where she will compete for the national title alongside 26 other women from varying states.

To schedule an appearance or presentation by the new Ms. Wheelchair Kansas, please contact Carrie Greenwood, State Coordinator, at (785) 267-5982 or via email at mswheelchairkansas@yahoo.com. More information can also be found on the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas web site at www.mswheelchairkansas.org.

The Ms. Wheelchair Kansas program is affiliated with Three Rivers, Inc. and is sponsored in part by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

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